Apparatus for playing hopping games.



F. QUADE.

APPARATUS FOR PLAYING HOPPING GAMES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-5,1914.

1,155,273. Pdtentedsept. 28, 1915.

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Specification of Letters'Patent.

HOPPING GAMES.

Patented Sept. 28, mi s.

Application filed Au ust 5,1914. Serial No. 855,288.

To aZZ w/wmit may concern:

Be it known thatI, Fnrrz QUA E, a subject of the German Emperor,residing at Buckow Mark whose aost-ofiice address is Children whenwishing to play this game hitherto have used a particular figure such asa rectangle sub-divided up, or a spiral figure and so forth divided intosections, and the idea was to hop from one section to the next withouttouching the lines which separate the various sub-divisions. Usuallythese figures were scratched upon the ground or drawn with chalk onasphalt paving or upon paving stones. This wouldresult in the outlinesbeing obliterated during the game. Also, there is a tendency for theoutlines of the figures to be irregular when marked out by children.

The present invention has for one object to do away with these drawbacksand to make the game capable of being played under uniform conditions,so that in some cases adult persons may be encouraged to play suchgames.

The present invention for this purpose contemplates the formation of thenecessary figures by placing down mats or plates of suitable shape anddistinctively marked- More particularly defined, the present inventionemploys plates which can be easily distinguished from the surroundingground,

for example, by being distinctively colored,

or marked by figures, letters or other signs. By this method ofdistinguishing the different mats the game is rendered capable of muchgreater variation and as each mat is removable as desired it will bereadily seen that they can be placed in such relative positions as toform complete figures of varying shapes. The plates may be of anycomposition, such asstone-wood, stone-cork, vulcanized fiber, linoleumand so forth. According to the invention, for instance, the mats mayhave beveled edges for facilitating the hopping on to them.

Again, a further object of the invention is to provide means forpreventing the mats changing their position. In the case of soft groundor sandy places the mats may be provided with pegs underneath whichpenetrate into the soft ground. When employedonhard surfaces such asfloor boards, paving stones, asphalt and so forth, they may be wholly orpartially formed of a material exerting considerable friction upon thesurfacebelow, such as, for example, india rubber. V

Some embodiments of the present inventlon are illustratedintheqaccompanying drawings, in whichi Figure 1 is a view from above andFig- 2 a view from below, of a single section of the apparatus adaptedfor use on soft ground. Fig. 3 1s a perspective view in section of amodified form suitable for use on hard surfaces.

Referring first of all to Figs. 1 and 2, as

here shown each. section consists of a circular disk 1 of material suchas linoleum and so forth, as described above. The edge of this disk isbeveled off down to the ground level entirely around the disk, as seenat 2. The upper surface of the disk may be slightly hollow as desiredand may be colored any distinctive color, or as shown may be providedwith a distinctive sign 3, which may be inlaidinto the upper surface ofthe device.

Thebottom surface of the disk 1 is shown as provided with three pegs i.It will readily be understod that when placed on soft soil these pegswill fairly quickly sink In Fig. 3 a slightly modified arrangement 1sillustrated. The only difference, however,

i is that the pegst which effect the necessary gripping are replaced'byforming the lower portion of the disk as a layer of some material suchas india rubber, which has consid erable co-efiicient of friction. Thislower layer 5, seen in Fig. 3, is shown with a re cess or hollow 6formed below. This tends to give a sort of suction action uponthe hardsurface to whichit is applied and still further enhances the grippingqualities of the mat. It will readily be understood that the whole matmay be made of this india rubber or like substances.

What I claim is z 1. In apparatus for playing hopping or jumping games,a plurality of mats, each distinctively marked and relatively placedplates, and pegs on the underside of each for the players to hop fromone mat on'to plateadapted to hold it stationary on the another. I y 7ground.

2. Apparatus for playing a jumping game goIn testimony whereof I havesigned my 15 5 comprising a plurality of thin plates having name to thisspecification in the presence beveled edges, difstinctive marks onsaid-Adfi t-iifi fiibseribing Witnesses. plates and means or preventingsaid lates-- from slipping on the ground. FRITZ E' 3. Apparatus forplaying a jumping game Witnesses: Y 10 comprising a plurality of thinplates having a WALDEMAR Koee'n, beveled edges distinctive marks on:said VWOLDEMAR'HAUPT.

, Copies of this pat'ent may be obtained for fii e ee nts each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents a washingtonfllc. I

